Pelicans to play final home game with lease up in air

The city of Myrtle Beach passed the first of two readings granting a three-year extension for the minor league baseball team’s contract.

Little changes were made in the original 20-year contract, which was signed in 1998, requiring the city to provide for 70-percent of the stadium’s maintenance and the county to pay for 30-percent of the costs. In exchange, the lease states, the team pays the two entities rent on adjusted gross revenues. The city netted about $61,500 in 2017.

Chuck Greenberg, team owner, said the extension gives the team, city and county time to review the stadium’s condition as it looks to another long-term contact. He said a minor league baseball stadium consultant will be hired to make recommendations on upgrades needed at the ballpark. But, he said, the Pelicans are not looking to move from it’s home off 21st Avenue North.

“We don’t have a wandering eye,” he told the city council on Tuesday.

The stadium cost $12.8 million to build with the city’s share at $7 million and the county’s share at $3 million. The team owner at the time, Capital Broadcasting, paid about $2.8 million for additional upgrades.

The city is due to pay off its portion of the stadium next month.

The Pelicans are an advanced single-A Chicago Cubs team. It originated as a minor league team for the Atlanta Braves and has since been part of the Texas Rangers organization before joining the Cubs. Greenberg bought the team in 2006.

The Pelicans suffered a 12-3 loss on Wednesday. They play their final home game of the 2018 season against the Buies Creek Astros on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.